Page 43 of Sweet Punk
TWENTY-TWO
STAR
“Kellan?” He’s been in the bathroom for more than ten minutes. I stand outside the door, chewing absentmindedly on my lip. “Everything okay?”
Just when I’ve resigned myself to the idea that I’ll have to go back to my suite if I want to pee anytime soon, the door opens.
Kellan in all his naked glory is definitely something to behold. He’s all lean, sculpted muscle, smooth, inked skin, and one beast of a cock that he used rather impressively for his first time tonight. Is that what this is about, though? Is something wrong? Was it not good for him? DidIdo something that triggered him? He had my hands in his the entire time we were having sex. I’ve told him before I’m not an idiot, I know he doesn’t like to be touched. And I think I’ve figured out why, though I will never say anything unless he brings it up to me because I respect his privacy too much for that.
I may not have touched his chest or shoulders, but the missionary position we were in put me really close to him. And even without my glasses and the rather frantic nature of our coupling, I think I know what the problem is. His tattoos are a camouflage of sorts. They’re hiding something. And it makes me sad to think what that could be. My brain can’t even comprehend.
I suck in a breath. The idea that someone could hurt Kellan is crazy. Except— My hands begin to shake. What if… My eyes crash shut. I don’t want to consider the direction my brain has run in, wild with speculation.
He has a funny look on his face, but then he seems to shake himself free of his thoughts. His brows furrow as he rubs a hand over his jaw. “Sorry. I’m good.”
“That’s okay.” I point behind him. “I need to use the bathroom.” I give him a little smile. I haven’t a clue what he’s thinking, and I’ll admit, that has me worried.
“Fuck. Yeah. Sorry.” He steps aside to let me past, then crosses to the bed, and just kind of stands there in front of it with his hands laced on top of his head. I try not to gawk at his rear view since he’s clearly torn up about something butshew.His tush is to die for, complete with those sexy little dimples above each butt cheek. I exhale sharply, shutting myself in the bathroom. I wish I knew what was on his mind because I have no idea whether it’s me, him, or us that’s causing his inner turmoil. Or something else entirely.
A few minutes later, I exit to find Kellan sprawled across the bed with the lights out. I can’t tell if he’s asleep until I get closer. His jaw twitches, lashes fluttering as his eyes open. “Hey.” There’s a rough quality to his voice that I’ve heard once or twice before. Usually when he’s a little upset about something.
“Kellan, if I did something wrong, you’d tell me, right?” Tears prick at the back of my eyes at the thought that I could have caused him pain. Would he? Or would he hide it?Shit.
“Come here.” The command in his voice settles bone-deep, and I can’t help but comply. “I’m fine, baby.” He pats the bed as he rolls to his side. “Scoot back here.”
The way he saysbaby.Oh, God. It makes me ache with the need I have for him. Because I do need him. He’s become the one I want to go to when I have a problem, which was highly evident after the Milo incident. Kellan had been my first—and only—choice of who to run to. I climb into the bed, allowing him to spoon me from behind. Maybe I should ask him about the tattoos.
He briefly kisses me right at the juncture of my shoulder and neck. “You’d tell me if there was more to this thing with Milo, right?”
I freeze.Oh, God.“What do you mean?”
He breathes out a sigh, the escaped air feathering over the side of my face. “You seemed on-edge tonight while you were talking to everyone.”
“With everything that’s been happening, I’ve been in a constant state of alertness since August.”
Kellan finds my hand and laces his fingers through mine. “You think he was in your suite as far back as that? That he’s been… plotting this entire time? Playing some fucked-up game of cat and mouse?”
I huff out a breath. “You don’t know Milo like I do. He can be devious.” My chest constricts, and I squeeze my eyes shut, biting down hard on my lip. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. But I’ll worry about you. Are you sure you don’t want to report this to someone? I mean, there was a fuckin’ fire downstairs. The psycho threw lit matches at you.”
I sniff. “I know. But you don’t—”Ugh.He doesn’t get it.
His lips press to my shoulder as he lets go of my hand to allow his palm to coast up and down my arm in a soothing manner. “Talk to me, baby.” The soft, sweetness of his voice brings forth the tears I’ve been holding back. They slide down my cheeks, and my body trembles against him.
“I meant it when I said he’s a literal psychopath. I wasn’t throwing that term around lightly. He’s so manipulative, so smart, and such a good planner that he’ll have an alibi, a million reasons why whatever he’s done couldn’t have been him. If I were to report it, he’d have someone somewhere willing to swear he was a hundred miles away when it happened.”
My voice must have gotten kinda shrill because Kellan holds me tightly and makes little shushing noises as he strokes my hair back from my face. “I’m sorry. I believe you.”
I let out a shuddery breath and nod. “Sorry. I get a little worked up when it comes to Milo. I should have known better than to think the hell I’ve been through in dealing with him was over.”
“So, let me make sure I understand what you’ve said.” He wraps his arms around my torso and brushes a kiss over my jaw. “With the Wayne thing, Milo said you were ‘his girl’ and that obviously wasn’t true. And the only thing anyone ever caught him doing was something he didn’t manage to pull off because you secretly warned the school.”
“Yep.”
Kellan bristles. “Okay. Well, he’ll find out damn fast that he has no claim to you. But he has it out for you, too, so we’ll be extra vigilant. If I catch him anywhere near you, I’ll have to break his face.”
We’re quiet for a few moments before I whisper, “I hate that it has to be this way.”
